There's Always This Year: On Basketball and Ascension

by Hanif Abdurraqib

I remember when I understood that I was a bad liar—but a committed one.

city of finding out even if you ain’t fuckin’ around all that much,

And so we stay, one way or another. We never make it out, and we never disappear. Permanence is the greatest stunt of them all.

Believes home is wherever / you land / wherever holds you / after you take flight / it is better this way / you cannot be a king / to everyone / you cannot be a king / forever / no ruler is unkillable / but goddamn / praise be / the executioners / have yet to find a weapon / that will do the trick

To anyone who never wanted to make it out of the places that love/d them.